'Caught Stealing' Review: Aronofsky’s Punk-Rock Detour Into Crime, Chaos, and Cats
- Jack Ransom
- Aug 28
- 3 min read
By Jack Ransom - August 28, 2025
The 9th film from director Darren Aronofsky. Caught Stealing follows burned-out ex-baseball player Hank Thompson (Austin Butler) who unexpectedly finds himself embroiled in a dangerous struggle for survival amidst the criminal underbelly of 1990s New York City, forced to navigate a treacherous underworld he never imagined.
When it comes to Aronofsky, I still have four of his feature films left to see, yet (prior to this) the other four that I have watched made it abundantly clear of his usual directorial themes, bleak tones and bursts of uncompromising raw intimacy and depravity. So it came as a huge surprise when the trailer for Caught Stealing dropped with the energy, stylisation and snarky humour usually seen in the works of Edgar Wright, Guy Ritchie & Quentin Tarantino.
Honestly, this might be my favourite Aronofsky flick so far, which is ironic considering it’s his most far removed. It’s bristling with punk rock rebellion, genuine heart (fans of cats will immediately be on board), razor sharp wit, stakes that feel palpable with bursts of intense violence and slapstick comedy outbursts. Sure, the narrative beats are familiar (make no mistake, without Aronofsky’s name in the credits you immediately think this is an Edgar Wright joint set in the Baby Driver-verse), full throttle pacing and ricocheting structure keep you hooked despite the narrative foibles.
Stylistically the grittier 90’s edge is captured effectively and Hank’s (Butler) NYC homestead has a palpable sense of community and ‘lived in-ness’. There is a lot of community interaction: from the homeless guy out the front of his apartment, to the bustling bar where he works and the various cultural neighbourhoods and gangs that make up NYC.
Style Over Suffering – A Switch in Aronofsky’s Toolbox
Aronofsky’s familiar lingering, weighty emphasis on excruciating emotional rawness is switched up for frenetic, energetic and exciting camerawork that rockets along the streets. Scrappy fisticuffs, reckless manic gunfights and knuckle clenching car chases are on the menu backed by punk, reggae, hip-hop and rock to pump the energy up.
The cast line-up is stacked and everyone is locked into the hyped up, goofy, gritty world. Austin Butler is clearly having a riot and it’s great seeing him in a less stoic (The Bikeriders) and/or mythic-like role (Elvis, Dune: Part Two), he also nails the weightier moments of guilt and trauma. He and the slinky, snappy and charming Zoë Kravitz have top chemistry. Matt Smith’s foul mouthed, old-school punk geezer is a blast as an embittered sarcastic fool, Regina King’s hard edged cop intimidates the screen Bad Bunny and his goons are as ridiculous as they are menacing and lastly both Vincent D’Onofrio & Liev Schreiber are a lot of fun as the Hebrew hitmen Shmully & Liba.
Final Verdict: A Riotous, Messy, But Thrilling Ride
Caught Stealing is a electric jolt in the arm and a refreshing tonal switch up from Aronofsky. The cast are having a ball, the NYC backdrop pulses with life, the pacing rockets along and we are provided with another cinematic cat winner. Sure, it may fall into familiar tropes and cliches and gets a little messy, but you’ll be having too much fun to really notice.
'Caught Stealing' releases in cinemas August 29
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